N00302:532
Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of the lost son found, is opened and applied, as it was delivered in sundry sermons, / by Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Two lines from Luke]
printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Philips, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Against the Law of God; for that is it which makes it to be sin, 1 Joh. 3. 4. It is not the hurt which another receives, nor what we our selves suffer, but what we do, that firstly demonstrates it sin; but it is the contrariety it ⟨p. 224⟩bears to the precept, and holy revealed will of God: He that breaks thy King's Laws, wrongs the King himself.
2. Against the love of God; his good will, his bounty and beneficence to his creatures, by which he doth invite and engageth all men to serve and honour him; it is therefore called a despising of his goodness, Rom. 2. 4. The Fathers bounty made the Sons sins the worse, he had readily given him a plentiful Portion, and yet he spends it in riot.
3. Against the promises and threatenings of God; they slight the one, and contemn the other, are not in love with the promises, nor afraid of his wrath: There are great promises made to obedience, but they forsake these mercies, count them as worthless things: See Psal. 81. 9, to 13. God hath fearfully menaced, and denounced heavy judgments against sin and sinners, and bids them beware of sin because of them, Jer. 6.8. Be instructed, left my soul depart from thee. And because these are from God, who is able to honour his servants, and to make inexpressibly miserable his enemies, this is a sore aggravation.
3. Against the promises and threatnings of God; they slight the one, and contemn the other, are not in love with the promises, nor afraid of his wrath: There are great promises made to obedience, but they forsake these mercies, count them as worthless things: See Psal. 81. 9, to 13. God hath fearfully menaoed, and denounced heavy judgments against sin and sinners, and bids them beware of sin because of them, Jer. 6.8. Be instructed, left my soul depart from thee. And because these are from God, who is able to honour his servants, and to make inexpressibly miserable his enemies, this is a sore aggravation.
4. Against God's earnest and heart-breaking calls and counsels; yea, strongest Motives and persuasions: What stronger plea can God use against sin, than to declare that it is abominable to him, & his soul hates it […] yet it is ⟨p. 225⟩a grief to his spirit, and will oppress him? and yet thus God pleads with sinners, Jer 44. 4.
4. Against God's earnest and heart-breaking calls and counsels; yea, strongest Motives and perswasions: What stronger plea can God use against sin, than to declare that it is abominable to him, & his soul hates it 〈…〉 yet it is ⟨p. 225⟩a grief to his spirit, and will oppress him? and yet thus God pleads with sinners, Jer 44. 4.
5. Against his Honour and Glory: There is nothing so much against the declarative glory of God as sin is; yea, nothing at all is against it, but sin: Every sin dishonours his Name; by secret sin we dishonour him in our hearts, by open sin, we do it in our lives […] God is an holy God, and it is only holiness that honours him. Now this is to see sin sinful, •hen we are brought to see that it is against God, wherein properly the sinfulness of it doth consist: Nor can a soul ever know how great an evil sin is, nor the meritoriousness of it, not the equity of the penalty threatened against it, till he be fully persuaded and made to acknowledge that it is against Heaven.
5. Against his Honour and Glory: There is nothing so much against the declarative glory of God as sin is; yea, nothing at all is against it, but sin: Every sin dishonours his Name; by secret sin we dishonour him in our hearts, by open sin, we do it in our lives 〈…〉 God is an holy God, and it is only holiness that honours him. Now this is to see sin sinfull, •hen we are brought to see that it is against God, wherein properly the sinfulness of it doth consist: Nor can a soul ever know how great an evil sin is, nor the meritoriousness of it, not the equity of the penalty threatned against it, till he be fully perswaded and made to acknowledge that it is against Heaven.
3. He aggravates it, in that it was not only against, but before his father: Thus also David aggravates his sin, Psal. 51. 4. and done this evil in thy sight. The word [[Greek or Hebrew]] signifieth, in the sight: and Sin is committed in the presence of God; he stands by & looks on; not only such sins as are committed in the sight of sun, but such also as are done in the dark, & out of the sight of mortal men: he sees into every corner, Psal. 139. 12. Divine Omnipresence •lls all places: and this is a great aggravation of Sin; it argues either,
3. He aggravates it, in that it was not only against, but before his father: Thus also David aggravates his sin, Psal. 51. 4. and done this evil in thy sight. The word [〈non-Latin alphabet〉] signifieth, in the sight: and Sin is committed in the presence of God; he stands by & looks on; not only such sins as are committed in the sight of sun, but such also as are done in the dark, & out of the sight of mortal men: he sees into every corner, Psal. 139. 12. Divine Omnipresence •lls all places: and this is a great aggravation of Sin; it argues either,
1. Great heedlessness; that men do not regard ⟨p. 226⟩the presence of God; and that shows much of Atheism: Did men know or believe that God stood by and over-looked all their actions, would they dare so to do as they do? This was that which made them so impudently bold, in Ezek. 9. 9. They say, the Lord s••th not. And thus men deny that glorious Attribute without which he were not God, Or,
1. Great heedlesness; that men do not regard ⟨p. 226⟩the presence of God; and that shews much of Atheism: Did men know or believe that God stood by and over-looked all their actions, would they dare so to do as they do? This was that which made them so impudently bold, in Ezek. 9. 9. They say, the Lord s••th not. And thus men deny that glorious Attribute without which he were not God, Or,
2. Horrid profaneness: If men do acknowledge, and yet regard not that God seeth them, it argues that men have cast off the fear of God from them, that they have lost the awe of his Judgements, and are not afraid of his wrath. It is the aggravation of Sodoms Sin, Gen. 23.13. They were sinners before the Lord, God comes to men and presents himself in his strict commands, and severe threatenings, tells them in his Word and Ordinances that his wrath shall burn against such Sins, and such Sinners; and yet they care not: God speaks by his Word, and speaks by conscience, but to no purpose; this proves mens obstinacy.
2. Horrid prophaneness: If men do acknowledge, and yet regard not that God seeth them, it argues that men have cast off the fear of God from them, that they have lost the aw of his Judgements, and are not afraid of his wrath. It is the aggravation of Sodoms Sin, Gen. 23.13. They were sinners before the Lord, God comes to men and presents himself in his strict commands, and severe threatnings, tells them in his Word and Ordinances that his wrath shall burn against such Sins, and such Sinners; and yet they care not: God speaks by his Word, and speaks by conscience, but to no purpose; this proves mens obstinacy.
2. The reason why God makes the true penitent thus see and acknowledge Sin is not to drive the soul beyond hope of mercy, but it is.
1. To make the creature so touched with the sense of his own sin, that he may thus see it in its worst colours, and thence learn to loath it, ⟨p. 227⟩and himself for it: that he may see Sin hateful not only in its consequents, but in its self, and thence what reason God hath, and how just it is for him to be so severe, and bear such a dreadful witness against Sin, as he doth in his word and works, Ezek. 36. 31.
2. That the greatness of the riches of his grace may appear, and be known to be unsearchable: that every believer may experience the meaning of that, Rom. 5. 20. Where sin hath abounded, grace did much more abound. Hence Paul shall not only acknowledge grace, but with an emphasis, 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. The blacker the Sin looketh, the brighter will grace appear, and the more intense will the love of the soul be to God: It is our Saviours argument, Luk. 7. 47. To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. That believer that hath seen and known the worst of himself, ever hath the most precious thoughts of Christ.
USE, 1. Here we see how far those are from true Repentance, who instead of aggravating, do mince and extenuate their Sins, and endeavour to make them look as small as they can, that they may be little affected with, or humbled for them. Many pretend they have come to God, and believed in him, but how did they come? Why, as the Pharisee, with their proud boastings, not as the Publican, with a Lord have mercy on me a sinner. They have looked for ⟨p. 228⟩Grace and Mercy, not on the account of Christ alone, but their encouragement hath been, they have been better than others, have a good nature, have not been tainted with such Sins, nor so dishonoured God, &c. This is not the way of Gospel-Repentance; such as these are far from true conversion; there is yet a great work to do for and upon them if ever they come to be made sharers of saving mercies.
USE, 1. Here we see how far those are from true Repentance, who instead of aggravating, do mince and extenuate their Sins, and endeavour to make them look as small as they can, that they may be little affected with, or humbled for them. Many pretend they have come to God, and believed in him, but how did they come? Why, as the Pharisee, with their proud boastings, not as the Publican, with a Lord have mercy on me a sinner. They have looked for ⟨p. 228⟩Grace and Mercy, not on the account of Christ alone, but their encouragement hath been, they have been better than others, have a good nature, have not been tainted with such Sins, nor so dishonoured God, &c. This is not the way of Gospel-Repentance; such as these are far from true convevrsion; there is yet a great work to do for and upon them if ever they come to be made sharers of saving mercies.
USE, 2. This may serve to answer that usual objection or discouragement which many a wakened sinners are exercised withal, and deterred by, from coming to Christ; viz. the greatness of their sins, their heinousness, their amazing aggravations, they have not finned at the ordinary rate, but exceeded, and none have sinned like them; they have gotten to speak terribly against themselves: and hence they are ready to draw a desperate conclusion, there is no hope for me: This you see directly contradicts the Gospel method; whereas you ought thus to argue, therefore there is the greatest need for me above all. Let those that think their wounds small, that hope to cure them themselves, or to out-grow them, let such tarry away; but for me, I must perish if I go not to the Physician; yea, this may animate you to this, to consider, this is the way of Christ; he makes sin very bitter, Jer. 2. 19. Where he intends to afford his grace and salvation; and ⟨p. 229⟩till you find it to be so, you are not fit for mercy: there is no plea for mercy more acceptable to or prevalent with Christ, than that which is framed from the sensible acknowledgement, of its Sin in its greatest aggravations: The worse we count of our selves, the better he likes us, and the fitter we are for his grace to work upon; let this then drive thee the more resolutely to him.
USE, 2. This may serve to answer that usual objection or discouragement which many a wakened sinners are exercised withal, and deterred by, from coming to Christ; viz. the greatness of their sins, their hainousness, their amazing aggravations, they have not finned at the ordinary rate, but exceeded, and none have sinned like them; they have gotten to speak terribly against themselves: and hence they are ready to draw a desperate conclusion, there is no hope for me: This you see directly contradicts the Gospel method; whereas you ought thus to argue, therefore there is the greatest need for me above all. Let those that think their wounds small, that hope to cure them themselves, or to out-grow them, let such tarry away; but for me, I must perish if I go not to the Physitian; yea, this may animate you to this, to consider, this is the way of Christ; he makes sin very bitter, Jer. 2. 19. Where he intends to afford his grace and salvation; and ⟨p. 229⟩
USE, 3. From counsel to such as are encouraged with the hopes of mercy, and would go to God for it, how to go so as to find acceptance, i. e. in sum, labour to be as vile in your own eye and esteem as can be: get the deep sense and apprehension of the greatness of your sin: charge Sin as God chargeth it, aggravate Sin as the word of God aggravates it; judge your selves by the righteous law of God; feel the weight and burden of Sin, and groan under it as those that are weary and oppressed with it; such are encouraged, Matt. 11. 28. Come to me ye that are weary and heavy laden. Add every proper weight to Sin that may make it the most burdensome and insupportable thing in the world: In particular;
USE, 3. From counsel to such as are encouraged with the hopes of mercy, and would go to God for it, how to go so as to find acceptance, i. e. in summe, labour to be as vile in your own eye and esteem as can be: get the deep sense and apprehension of the greatness of your sin: charge Sin as God chargeth it, aggravate Sin as the word of God aggravates it; judge your selves by the righteous law of God; feel the weight and burden of Sin, and groan under it as those that are weary and oppressed with it; such are encouraged, Matt. 11. 28. Come to me ye that are weary and heavy laden. Add every proper weight to Sin that may make it the most burdensome and insupportible thing in the world: In particular;
1. Make it your own, and take the blame to your selves, Sin ever affects us more or less, according as we find our selves interested in it, so much as we fault others, so much of self Justification will follow; and the less we have ⟨p. 230⟩known Sin to be our own, the less will the grace of Christ be sweetened in our apprehension: When Cicero would set forth Caesar's great clemency, he makes his own fault every way his own: Nullâ vi coactus, judicio meo, & voluntate meâ, ad ea arma profectus sum, quae sumpta sunt contra te. Pro Ligar. Thus must you do, and thus shall you bring glory to pardoning mercy; See and say, it was your own choice, your heart was in it, you were not compelled, but acted freely, resolutely, and therefore have justly deserved to be rejected when you have nothing to plead for your selves, then you are fit to plead mercy. Remember therefore that God made man upright, it is he that hath sought out many inventions. God hath given to no tempters, either Men or Devils, power over your wills to compel them.
1. Make it your own, and take the blame to your selves, Sin ever affects us more or less, according as we find our selves interested in it, so much as we fault others, so much of self Justification will follow; and the less we have ⟨p. 230⟩known Sin to be our own, the less will the grace of Christ be sweetned in our apprehension: When Cicero would set forth Caesar's great clemency, he makes his own fault every way his own: Nullâ vi coactus, judicio meo, & voluntate meâ, ad ea arma profectus sum, quae sumpta sunt contra te. Pro Ligar. Thus must you do, and thus shall you bring glory to pardoning mercy; See and say, it was your own choice, your heart was in it, you were not compelled, but acted freely, resolutely, and therefore have justly deserved to be rejected when you have nothing to plead for your selves, then you are fit to plead mercy. Remember therefore that God made man upright, it is he that hath sought out many inventions. God hath given to no tempters, either Men or Devils, power over your wills to compel them.
2. See how vile your Sin must be, in that it hath been against God: you never look aright upon it until you bring it up hither. It is true, Sin cannot rob God of his essential glory, which is out of the reach of the creatures malignity, but his declarative glory is thereby abused: you have not only wronged man that is a worm, but you have injured the God of Glory: It is his holy Law that you have broken, else it is not Sin; you have preferred a base lust, a lying vanity before him; you have rejected the rule of infinite wisdom, which only can direct ⟨p. 231⟩man to his end: you have despised and trampled upon the great reward of happiness, which was propounded to you: you have cast off the yoke of supreme sovereignty, under which you ought to have put your selves: You have placed Sin in God's Throne, and given it the precedency; you have slighted the gracious and precious invitations or the Gospel, which have been set before you; you that are worms of the dust, have risen up against an infinite Majesty: And is not this a sore and grievous thing? Can you be too much affected for that Sin which is of so deep a dye? this is the true and kindly sense which every penitent Soul, enlightened by the Spirit of Grace, hath of his Sins.
2. See how vile your Sin must be, in that it hath been against God: you never look aright upon it until you bring it up hither. It is true, Sin cannot rob God of his essential glory, which is out of the reach of the creatures malignity, but his declarative glory is thereby abused: you have not only wronged man that is a worm, but you have injured the God of Glory: It is his holy Law that you have broken, else it is not Sin; you have preferred a base lust, a lying vanity before him; you have rejected the rule of infinit wisdom, which only can direct ⟨p. 231⟩man to his end: you have despised and trampled upon the great reward of happiness, which was propounded to you: you have cast off the yoke of supream soveraignty, under which you ought to have put your selves: You have placed Sin in God's Throne, and given it the precedency; you have slighted the gracious and precious invitations or the Gospel, which have been set before you; you that are worms of the dust, have risen up against an infinite Majesty: And is not this a sore and grievous thing? Can you be too much affected for that Sin which is of so deep a dye? this is the true and kindly sence which every penitent Soul, enlightned by the Spirit of Grace, hath of his Sins.
